Scot ancestors, either Canadian military or Scot?

[frank_a]

I have been sorting through family history stuff this month as prep for putting together a genealogy for my 3 sons (and one grandson so far!). In sorting through "stuff" from the Campbell side of the family, I came across these 5 pics of kilted folk. Any idea what branch of who's military these folks were with? I don't have names of the fellows, just know that somehow they're ancestors of mine.

Thanks for any help!

Frank

[BCAC]

I have been sorting through family history stuff this month as prep for putting together a genealogy for my 3 sons (and one grandson so far!). In sorting through "stuff" from the Campbell side of the family, I came across these 5 pics of kilted folk. Any idea what branch of who's military these folks were with? I don't have names of the fellows, just know that somehow they're ancestors of mine.

Thanks for any help!

Frank

The ones on the left side of the first pic look to be wearing Hodden Grey so possibly either London Scottish or Toronto Scottish Regiments.

[frank_a]

Thanks BCAC. I do believe, after more investigation, that all of them must be in some sort of Canadian regiment. I believe all 5 photos were taken in Canada. Cheers! Frank

[bluebonnet]

Frank, you might want to try looking up surnames from your family in the National Archives of Canada. They have now completed digitalizing all the attestation papers from WW1. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/d...2-100.01-e.php

I found all my great grandfather's, his brothers and many of the cousins's records. The papers lay out their NOK, where they joined from , some personal details like weight and height, colour of hair, education etc and their home addresses. Gold mine of info for those doing family research.

You can also search the Commonwealth War Graves site for fallen family members. The site will tell you where they fell, where they are buried and in some cases, a photo of the grave or monument. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx These names will include those fallen from all commonwealth countries - UK, Aus, Canada etc. In that list and record, it will include DOB, regt and rank and service number. From there, you can request their records from DND/MoD.

[frank_a]

Frank, you might want to try looking up surnames from your family in the National Archives of Canada. They have now completed digitalizing all the attestation papers from WW1. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/d...2-100.01-e.php I found all my great grandfather's, his brothers and many of the cousins's records. The papers lay out their NOK, where they joined from , some personal details like weight and height, colour of hair, education etc and their home addresses. Gold mine of info for those doing family research. You can also search the Commonwealth War Graves site for fallen family members. The site will tell you where they fell, where they are buried and in some cases, a photo of the grave or monument. http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead.aspx These names will include those fallen from all commonwealth countries - UK, Aus, Canada etc. In that list and record, it will include DOB, regt and rank and service number. From there, you can request their records from DND/MoD.

Thanks for those links, but I do not have any direct ancestors that fought in WWI, at least in Canada. My paternal grandmother, a Campbell, had only sisters, and her dad died young in a logging accident. These kilted relatives would have been related somehow through my paternal grandmother's father, or her Wallace mother. My ancestry records do not go "sideways" even to 1st cousins, who I assume these kilted gentlemen were, if not 2nd cousins or just related to friends of the family. Unfortunately, at this point, there is no one I can ask. All my aunts and uncles are gone, and the Campbell side of my family history is poorly populated if only because my paternal grandmother only had sisters. I'm scanning hundreds of old pictures and documents I inherited from my dad (who was the only son of his family) in preparation for a family history I hope to finish within the year I hope to give each of my 3 boys as comprehensive a history as I can. Also, probably after the 1st of the new year, I believe the wee lass and I will do the DNA thing that ancestry.com offers. I know I have a lot of Scot heritage, and hope this testing will tell me just how much. Cheers! Frank

[tulloch]

What a wonderful find! Good for you.

[Dung Trumpet]

The ones on the left side of the first pic look to be wearing Hodden Grey so possibly either London Scottish or Toronto Scottish Regiments.

Actually, they're both pipers in the 154th Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Overseas Battalion. What looks like Hodden Grey is actually a khaki kilt (full khaki kilt, and not just a khaki apron). Here's a photo of my grandfather, who was a piper with the battalion before they went overseas. At first I thought they might have both been in the 21st (Eastern Ontario) Battalion, CEF, out of Kingston, Ontario, but they're lacking the collar dogs of the 21st. I come to this conlusion because of the uniforms, and that the OP said that his family came from Woodlands, which was in Stormont County. I'll have a crack at IDing some of the other pics.

[frank_a]

Actually, they're both pipers in the 154th Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Overseas Battalion. What looks like Hodden Grey is actually a khaki kilt (full khaki kilt, and not just a khaki apron). Here's a photo of my grandfather, who was a piper with the battalion before they went overseas. At first I thought they might have both been in the 21st (Eastern Ontario) Battalion, CEF, out of Kingston, Ontario, but they're lacking the collar dogs of the 21st. I come to this conlusion because of the uniforms, and that the OP said that his family came from Woodlands, which was in Stormont County. I'll have a crack at IDing some of the other pics.

Wow! That's great info. I would not doubt they were SDG, as that is where my family is from. Thanks! Frank

[Dung Trumpet]

Wow! That's great info. I would not doubt they were SDG, as that is where my family is from. Thanks! Frank

You're welcome. Hazarding an educated guess with this one, but this gentleman appears to be a member of the 253rd (Queen's University) Highland Battalion, CEF, out of Kingston, Ontario. The shape of his cap badge nearly identical, and the description of the pipe band seems to match up closely. "1st May, 1917. Recruited throughout Canada from University students. Pipe Band, Argyll & Sutherland tartan; Balmoral with grey and red turkey feathers."

The 59th Battalion from Cornwall (pre-war militia unit) had plenty of its members join the 21st, 38th, 73rd, and 253rd battalions at various points, so that seems to square with your location. The 253rd was broken up to reinforce frontline units already at the front, and was disbanded following WWI. It is perpetuated by the Princess of Wales' Own Regiment in Kingston.

[Dung Trumpet]

For your collage pics, could you possibly post higher definition individual copies? I cannot make out anything on any of the men outside of the two pipers.